Community Gardens as Health Promoters: Effects on Mental and Physical Stress Levels in Adults with and without Mental Disabilities

Nugrahaning Dewi,Yuriko Yamakawa,Saori Shibanuma,Atsushi Toyoda,Tsuyoshi Okayama,Hiromi Takahashi,Takeshi Yasue,Hikari Shimonishi,Seiichi Sasaki,Masakazu Komatsuzaki

doi:10.3390/su9010063

Abstract

The study focuses on psychological and physical effects of stress while performing community garden activities of various intensity levels. The aim of this study was to determine the psychological and physical effects in adults with (case group) and without (control group) mental disabilities. Salivary α-amylase (sAA) levels and the stress response scale (SRS-18) were used for the psychological analysis (n = 42). For physical assessment (n = 13), electrocardiogram (ECG), surface electromyogram (sEMG), and respiration rate were continuously measured while performing the activities using a multichannel telemetry system. The results showed that following the activities, the case group exhibited decreasing sAA levels while control group exhibited increasing sAA levels. However, both groups exhibited lower SRS-18 results following the activities. Compared with the control group, the case group had a significantly lower increase in the ratio of the heart rate (IRHR) (5.5%) during low-intensity work (filling pots with soil), but a significantly higher IRHR (16.7%) during high-intensity work (turning over soil). The case group experienced significantly higher levels of fatigue during high-intensity work (digging) than during the rest condition. These findings indicate that appropriate workload allocation, according to health, is necessary in the community garden setting because reducing the intensity of work assignments for people with mental disabilities will reduce their physical stress.

Highlights

Health and well-being are important aspects of the cultural domain of urban sustainability [1]
There was no significant difference in the Salivary α-amylase (sAA) values before and after the activities for case group (p < 0.8) and control group (p < 0.2)
Previous studies have indicated that the sAA levels of people who developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following the East Japan earthquake decreased after taking care of plants (15 min/day) [55] and increased following exercise [62]

Summary

Introduction

Health and well-being are important aspects of the cultural domain of urban sustainability [1]. One aspect of the environmental, social, and psychological urban quality of life goals is the ability to enjoy natural landscapes and green areas, providing public gathering places to promote good relationships and interactions between people, along with the opportunity for people to have a place of their own by providing the ability to personalize the space [2]. These aspirations can be provided by community gardens. Previous studies have investigated the impact of gardens, orchards, and forests on stress levels [13,14,15] and several studies have considered gardening as a physical activity promoter, but not among adults with mental disabilities

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